Book 1 - Page 81 (1/2)

Gideon opened his and read, ”Prosperity will knock on your door soon.”

I snorted.

Cary shot me a look. ”I know, right? You s.n.a.t.c.hed someone else's cookie, Cross.”

”He better not be anywhere near someone else's cookie,” I said dryly.

Reaching over, Gideon plucked half of mine out of my fingers. ”Don't worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want.” He popped it in his mouth with a wink.

”Gag,” Cary muttered. ”Get a room.” He cracked his fortune with a flourish, and then scowled. ”What the f**k?”

I leaned forward. ”What's it say?”

”Confucius say,” Gideon ad-libbed, ”man with hand in pocket feel c.o.c.ky all day.”

Cary threw half his cookie at Gideon, who caught it deftly and grinned.

”Give me that.” I s.n.a.t.c.hed the fortune out from between Cary's fingers and read it. Then laughed.

”f.u.c.k you, Eva.”

”Well?” Gideon prodded.

”Pick another cookie.”

Gideon smiled. ”Pwned by a fortune.”

Cary threw the other half of his cookie.

I was reminded of similar evenings spent with Cary when I was attending SDSU, which made me try and picture what Gideon had been like in college. From the articles I'd read, I knew he'd attended Columbia for his undergraduate studies, then left to focus on his expanding business interests.

Had he a.s.sociated with the other students? Did he go to frat parties, screw around and/or drink too much? He was such a controlled man, I had a hard time picturing him that carefree, and yet here he was being exactly that with me and Cary.

He glanced at me then, still smiling, and my heart turned over in my chest. He looked his age for once, young and seriously fine and so very normal. At that moment, we were just a twenty-something couple relaxing at home with a roommate and a remote control. He was just my boyfriend, hanging out. It was all so sweet and uncomplicated, and I found the illusion a poignant one.

The intercom buzzed and Cary leaped to his feet to answer it. He glanced at me with a smile. ”Maybe it's Trey.”

I held up a hand with my fingers crossed.

But when Cary answered the door a few minutes later, it was the leggy blonde from the other night who came in.

”Hey,” she said, taking in the remnants of dinner on the table. She eyed Gideon appraisingly as he politely unfolded and stood in that powerfully graceful way of his. She shot me a smirk; then unleashed a dazzling supermodel smile on Gideon and held out her hand. ”Tatiana Cherlin.”

He shook her hand. ”Eva's boyfriend.”